We thought it was a bug but sepsis killed Eliza, 2
Dad’s warning to other parents after terrible tragedy
A GRIEVING father has told how his young daughter died of sepsis, after the family had mistaken her illness for a winter sickness bug.
Two-year-old Eliza Woods died on Saturday after contracting septicaemia believed to be related to a bronchial infection.
Her devastated parents, of Rhu in Argyll, now hope to use her tragic death to raise awareness of the killer infection.
Mike, 42, and Jodie, 40, who run a nursery and have three other
BY PAUL RODGER children – Taylah, 18, Jack, six, and Imogen, four – noticed that Eliza had a high temperature last Thursday.
Jack and Imogen had been off school sick last week, and the parents believed Eliza had caught the same bug.
The tot’s temperature was kept under control with prescription medication and they thought she was recovering as she was eating and drinking.
Mike said: “We like to think we are educated, experienced parents. We’re both trained in paediatric first aid, we know the signs.
“On Thursday lunchtime, Eliza was running a temperature at nursery, so we brought her home.
“On Saturday, she still had a bit of a temperature but she was asking for food and drinks and was playing with Lego at 11am.
“At 1pm, she started to show a bit of purpura, a discolouration of the skin caused by inflammation. She was rushed to hospital but had died before we could get there.
“If by telling our story we can ensure just one person’s life is saved, one family is saved from this pain, Eliza’s death will not be without reason.”